I can definitely see both sides to the argument. On one hand, the Triple Crown should be very difficult to win. On the other hand, given the fragility of modern T-Breds, it has become virtually impossible to achieve under the current structure. That's why Lukas has come out in favor of changing the distance and timing of the races.
Horses that were able to win the TC in the past were actually able to give improved performances across the 3 races - remember Affirmed, Seattle Slew, and especially, Secretariat. If any horse manages to win the TC in modern times under the present format, he would be a horse who gives a severely inferior performance in the Belmont, but still good enough to win against a weak Belmont field. That's the kind of TC winner we would have had if BB had not totally had a meltdown but only regressed enough to still beat the weak field. If we keep the current format, that's the kind of TC winner we will get, if any.
On the other hand, the end of TC winners, or great Belmont performances, may be just what the industry needs to wake to the fact of how badly they have screwed up the breed.
http://www.kentucky.com/779/story/428310.html
Bob
I think the current format is how it should be. Winning the TC should be almost impossible. Why change the spacing between races or the distances? Doesn\'t that cheapen the \"accomplishment?\"
If a horse wins the triple crown, they always have the opportunity to take on the older horses and prove their greatness, even if they beat a weak crop of 3 year olds in that particular year.
With only a dozen TC winners in the long history, its supposed to be hard.
Just my opinion.
I don\'t think it would do any harm to put it up a few weeks to give these athletes some time to regroup.This weekend was freaky with the weather- it was like August, but usually late June is still really nice. Marathon runners don\'t turn around and run another one in the same month. We wouldn\'t ask that of ourselves, why should we ask it of an animal? Flesh and blood like us? Boxers train six months to a year. And before anyone gets started, I have no affiliation with PETA! (smile) Just an opinion.
The gaps are comparable. No? I\'m curious if anyone has access to articles during
this time frame discussing this topic. First and foremost we protect our commodity
,and in time I believe another TC champion will surface.I\'m in favor of leaving
the format intact.
Respectfully,
Flighted Iron
D. Wayne and Bobble Head can go back to running quarter horses.
The only reason they want to change the TC is because with the fragile horses now days and the fear of the impending doom of roids and other drugs, they know there is no way they will ever have the winners they had in the past, I don\'t care how many horses the Legends can put in their barn